Medical Emu Oil Info.

The Emu Oil Institute

Emu Oil Research
- There have been various studies performed over
the past 15+ years throughout the world. The most profound finding
is that Emu oil is a multi-use substance that works in harmony with
various functions of the body to help humans become healthier.
It's unique bond chain formation is believed to be it's shining star.

Likewise, Emu oil may help different people in different ways. We
are all unique in our genetic make-up and Emu oil seems to recognize the
uniqueness of our genetics and helps the body where it is lacking, is
inflammed, or needs nutrition that can be supplied via Emu oil.

Looking Into Emu Oil

By: Dr. Robert Nicolosi, University of
Massachusetts (October, 2001)

Researchers at UMass Lowell are undertaking studies to determine
whether the properties tied to emu oil are fact or fiction.

So far, nothing has been proven.

"I really think there's something there," said professor Robert
Nicolosi, who is heading the research project at UMass Lowell. "But
we don't know where it is or what it is."

Nicolosi is optimistic about the oil's potential, but he is so
concerned about the unsubstantiated marketing claims that he
recently taped a segment for "Good Morning America" that highlights
his research and the uncertainties surrounding emu oil.

Nicolosi and his team of researchers are conducting studies
funded by the American Emu Association, which is hoping to prove
once and for all that emu oil works.

"It's never been scientifically proven," said Pat Sauer, director
of the American Emu Association. "That's what the association is
trying to do now scientifically prove those things."

What the UMass Lowell researchers have discovered so far is that
emu oil does have some anti-inflammatory properties when used on
mice. But that, stresses Nicolosi, is very different from use on
humans. The research by Nicolosi's team will be the third performed
on laboratory mice. Their paper is being submitted to a peer-review
journal.

When the American Emu Association first called Nicolosi to ask if
he would research the compound, he was somewhat wary.

"You immediately think it's snake oil, and you don't want to take
their money and you don't want to waste your time," Nicolosi said.
"I didn't think this stuff was going to work."

Then he began running experiments with mice. And the researchers
discovered that not only did emu oil reduce inflammation, but it
worked even better than fish oil, a known anti-inflammatory agent.

In their experiment, fish oil reduced the thickness caused by
inflammation in mice by 55 percent; emu oil by 70 percent.

The next step in the process is to vary the amount of emu oil
used to see how much is required to have the same effect. Then
researchers will partition out different components of the emu oil
to see which part of the oil contains the active ingredient.

Human clinical trials, while far off, are also a necessity if the
oil is to be scientifically proven to work.

"The science is great insofar with what we've done with mice,"
Nicolosi said. "But mice are not patients."

The possible uses of emu oil extend beyond arthritic pain and
soreness. Researchers in Australia are also looking into the
cholesterol-reducing aspects of the oil and its use as a delivery
device for other drugs.

If found to be effective, an arthritis drug like Celebrex could
be applied directly to the skin using an emu oil cream. Rather than
ingesting the drug and suffering side effects, patients could simply
apply it directly to where it hurts.

"If we have our way about it, we'll go through our trials and
make it available to the public," Nicolosi said. "But that's a ways
away."

Experimental Study to Determine the
Anti-Arthritic Activity of New Emu Oil Formulation (EMMP)(1993)

By: Dr. Peter
Ghosh at Royal North Shore Hospital of Sydney, Australia and Dr.
Michael Whitehouse at University of Adelaide, Australia.

Summary: A combination of emu oil
with a suitable transdermal transporter is found to show
anti-inflammatory (anti-rheumatic) activity in various rat models.
Details :

Timing:Experiments and observations occurred
on subgroups of patients over a three-month period.

Research Experiment Purpose:Dr. Whitehouse and Dr. Ghosh were
trying to observe:

1. If Emu Oil is an
anti-inflammatory agent for the painful swelling that takes place in
joints and bones of those suffering from Arthritis; and,
2. Does Emu Oil eliminate the arthritis pain for arthritis sufferers in
their bone cartilage and swollen joints.

Results/Conclusions:

1. In 14 days, Emu Oil had eliminated all inflammation caused by
arthritis joint swelling and bone abrasion due to lack of cartilage.
2. None of the patients experienced arthritis pain in their joints and
bones after 14 days of topical application. The pain caused by
constant friction of bones rubbing together had disappeared.

Summary: Analysis of fatty acids in
emu oil reveals that it contains approximately 70% unsaturated fatty
acids. The major fatty acid found in emu oil is oleic acid, which is
mono- unsaturated and which comprises over 40% of the total fatty
acid contents. Emu oil also contains both of the two essential fatty
acids (EFA's) which are important to human health: 20% linoleic, and
1-2% alpha-linolenic acid.

Summary: A comparison between oil
rendered from the fat of the emu, the ostrich and the rhea reveals
that the predominant fatty acid in ostrich and rhea oils in palmitic
acid, and of emu oil is oleic acid.

International Emu Oil Guidelines

By: The AEA Oil
Standards Team, Lee D. Smith (Team Leader) (1997)

Summary: (a) The text part of the
Guidelines consists of the Executive Summary, the Introduction, and
Background, and gives the requirements for the handling of emu fat
to ensure optimum quality of the finished oil, from bird handling
and processing to fat handling and cold storage.

(b) Actual oil testing criteria are
summarized within the Emu Oil Guidelines. The testing criteria would
be required by laboratories testing samples of emu oil to make sure
the oil satisfies the guidelines for safety and consistency. All oil
testing laboratories and oil rendering facilities should have a copy
of the Emu Oil Guidelines.

Emu Oil: Comedogenicity Testing

By: Department
of Dermatology, at University of Texas Medical School, Houston.

Summary: Testing using the rabbit
ear histological assay, with emu oil in concentrations of 25%, 75%
and 100% shows that emu oil in concentrations of up to 100% is
non-comedogenic, i.e. it does not clog the pores of the skin.

Summary: Eleven human subjects took
part in a double-blind clinical study which compared emu oil with
mineral oil in texture, skin permeability and moisturizing
properties, as well as comedogenicity and irritability to the skin.
No irritation to the skin was observed with either oil. However,
comedogenicity of emu oil was significantly lower than that of
mineral oil, and all subjects stated a unanimous preference for emu
oil.

Composition of Emu Oil: The Micro View

By: Dr. Leigh
Hopkins, AEA Oil Standards Team (Research Leader)

Summary: When compared with human
skin oil, the fatty acid composition of emu oil is found to be quite
similar. In both types of oil, mono-unsaturated oleic acid is the
most prevalent fatty acid, followed by palmitic acid, then linoleic
acid, which is an EFA. This similarity may be one of the factors
enabling emu oil to have such a positive action on human skin.

Summary: In his initial work with an
emu oil based cream combined with spearmint oil and lidocaine, Dr.
Code has found that this mixture appears to produce a reduced
sensation in the skin as compared with another mixture of local
anesthetics without emu oil. The goal is to reduce sensitivity to
the skin in a safe, fast and effective way for procedures such as
suturing or giving injections.

Summary: Ongoing studies on
the anti-inflammatory activity of emu oil, as tested using the
arthritis-induced rat model, indicate that different emu oils vary
in their ability to suppress arthritic symptoms and that a chemical
test for biological activity is needed rather than continuing to use
the rat model.

No information contained within the pages
of emu-oil.com should be construed as medical advice. We are not
doctors. Please contact your physician for medical advice. We make
no medical claims, expressed or implied.